After the weather played havoc with the New Year fixtures, a window in the relentless rain, snow and frost meant that Wick were able to get their game against Bexhill Utd on without any problems and the pitch looked a picture in the weak January sunshine.

Pirates gaffer Jay Skinner-Swain had to make some enforced changes to his defensive line-up with Ash Latuske making a return from a long lay-off to slot in at right back and Callum Brand also drafted into the centre alongside Dale Penn, Ryan Moir was also back in the starting line up wide on the left.

Bexhill started the game brightly kicking towards the by-pass end of Crabtree Park and on then minutes they came close to scoring when some fine play by Moir opened up a chance for Charlie Playford who saw his effort bounce back off the post.

Three minutes later it was the hosts who opened the scoring with Teddy Stairs finding space to finish sharply but it provoked an instant response, Andy Corrigan picking out Playford squaring the ball to Theo Coombs who levelled things up for the Pirates.

The goals really sparked the game into life and Moir was creating havoc. His whipped ball in on 28 minutes was punched out by Keelan Belcher only to the edge of the penalty area where Jack Shonk returned the ball back over the keeper’s head for his 148th goal in Pirates colours.

As the game switched back end to end Wick carried plenty of threatening intent and it was a testing afternoon for the Bexhill defence as the sun sank over towards Littlehampton. The Pirates were down to ten men on 38 minutes, Playford handed a straight red for a high boot in a fifty fifty challenge, the Bexhill protests waved away by the referee.

Wick took advantage of the extra man and grabbed the levellers just before half time through Danny Howick, the Pirates in need of the whistle to get in and regroup for the second half.

Bexhill knew they were in for a stern second 45 minutes as Wick had their tails up but there was no sign as the game got back underway the visitors would sit in and cling on for the point, they were going to go toe to toe for the win.

Whilst the Pirates box was bombarded with wave after wave of attacks, the visitors stood strong with Penn throwing himself in front of everything slung his way, the covering work in the middle of the park from Kyle Holden was herculean in it’s effort as the whole team worked hard to cover the gap left by the sending off.

At the Crabtree end, Bexhill were pushing hard for a winner and it came on 70 minutes. Max Hollobone swung in another fine corner which eluded everyone apart from Callum Brand at the far post who crashed the ball into the net on the volley in front of the travelling Bexhill fans.

With bundles of added time for a succession of injuries and delays it was gone 5pm before the final whistle blew much to the relief of those supporters behind the goal.

An important win for the Pirates after a couple of disappointing performances over Christmas in amongst some postponements and it leaves Bexhill Utd in nineth spot back on track for a push towards the play-off places.

Next Saturday the Pirates travel to Eastbourne Utd for the always eagerly anticipated local derby at The Oval, kick off 3pm.

Courtesy of Geoff Morris.